Ex-New Bernian giving back to where he came from

Hundreds of New Bern citizens line up to receive free turkeys Friday afternoon at the Super 10 store on Broad Street. The turkeys are courtesy of New Orleans Saints’ linebacker and New Bern native Kevin Reddick.

Jordan Honeycutt/Sun Journal

By Jordan Honeycutt, Sun Journal Staff

Published: Friday, November 22, 2013 at 05:54 PM.

New Orleans Saints’ linebacker and former New Bern resident Kevin Reddick knew some people in the Five Points area of New Bern where he grew up would not be able to have turkeys on Thanksgiving.

So, he did something about it.

Reddick, represented by his management company Millenium Sports Management Group out of Knightdale, donated 300 turkeys to needy families Friday at the Super 10 store on Broad Street.

“It’s just something that I have always had in my heart to do and something I’ve always wanted to do – give back to where I came from,” Reddick said. “I grew up in the projects there in New Bern and we never had someone to give back to us, so I know how helpful it is to those people who cannot afford a turkey and are less fortunate.”

Reddick’s father, along with Kurtis Stewart and Kian Brown of Millenium Sports Management were coordinating the event, as Reddick had obligations with the Saints.

“Kevin knows the demographics of New Bern and he grew up here in the impoverished section in Trent Court and Craven Terrace, and told me from day one that he wanted to give back and make a difference in these people’s lives,” said Kurtis Stewart, President of Millenium Sports Management Group.

“He’s passionate about the community and we all live to die, so I think it’s about what we do for others in that time in between our start date and end date and Kevin wants to do a lot.”

New Orleans Saints’ linebacker and former New Bern resident Kevin Reddick knew some people in the Five Points area of New Bern where he grew up would not be able to have turkeys on Thanksgiving.

So, he did something about it.

Reddick, represented by his management company Millenium Sports Management Group out of Knightdale, donated 300 turkeys to needy families Friday at the Super 10 store on Broad Street.

“It’s just something that I have always had in my heart to do and something I’ve always wanted to do – give back to where I came from,” Reddick said. “I grew up in the projects there in New Bern and we never had someone to give back to us, so I know how helpful it is to those people who cannot afford a turkey and are less fortunate.”

Reddick’s father, along with Kurtis Stewart and Kian Brown of Millenium Sports Management were coordinating the event, as Reddick had obligations with the Saints.

“Kevin knows the demographics of New Bern and he grew up here in the impoverished section in Trent Court and Craven Terrace, and told me from day one that he wanted to give back and make a difference in these people’s lives,” said Kurtis Stewart, President of Millenium Sports Management Group.

“He’s passionate about the community and we all live to die, so I think it’s about what we do for others in that time in between our start date and end date and Kevin wants to do a lot.”

Esther Brown, a New Bern resident for the past 20 years in the Five Points area, was one of the hundreds in line to receive a free bird.

“It’s Thanksgiving and it’s a blessing that we can get turkeys free and God bless him (Reddick) for what he is doing, it’s just a blessing,” Brown said.

Reddick in his rookie season with the Saints and has been a starter on special teams as well as seeing action in certain defensive packages.

“You know being just a rookie right now, I have to start out small and there is much more that I want to do to help the people of New Bern because no one’s really been doing it,” Reddick said. “God has blessed me with football and hopefully there are many more blessings to come.”

Jordan Honeycutt can be reached at 252-635-5670 or at Jordan.Honeycutt@newbernsj.com. Follow Jordan on Twitter @JHONEYnbsj29.